11 July, 2012

I'll admit that here is little good reason for drillium, save style. Yet it was very popular back in the day. The rational was that drilling holes in your components saved weight. Well it did, but not that much. On the other hand, it sure made your bike look fast. I had a drillium crank on my race bike. So I offer no excuse for this new drillium version of our Grand Cru 110bcd cranks other than that I want one for my own bike as do a few others here at VO.

The photo above is of the prototype. There are more holes in the version that is now in production and should reach us in late August. The first production run is small and I don't know if we'll do another. I wonder if others will like them as much as I do?

We have two other new cranks coming, one in late summer and another this winter, but we'll keep details secret for now.

We might sell the rings separately eventually, if the cranks sell well.

External BB would increase the q-factor on our cranks and the difference in stiffness is nothing but a marketing thing. The only advantage I can see is that bigger bearings might last longer, but also cost more.

Drillium is awesome. I have to urge you to consider real compact doubles. The 110mm BCD is totally mainstream now. Many of us are running 44/30 or 46/32 or similar on old 94mm BCD or other things. Your 50.4 and Compass' offerings are options, but somebody should step up and keep 94mm going.

I thought I had finally decided to buy a grand cru 110 crank and now I need to wait to see what the new projects are going to reveal. Such is life. This may not be functional but it's fun. Makes me want to reinstall my drop bars so I can have one and have it match my levers.

Any chance you'll be offering these 110 arms on their own? I've got a special gearing option in mind that will never be the mass marketed version you'd have to offer. I hate the idea of buying the crank and rings and then also having to buy different rings. But I also understand if it's not in the cards.

Bringing back Drillium is a great retro idea. I can't tell you how many wonderful comments I get on my 170mm Gipiemme Pista crank arms and chain rings that have been, pantographed, drilled and painted by PORETTI. http://www.flickr.com/photos/97652170@N00/3210807573/in/set-72157612771751114http://www.flickr.com/photos/97652170@N00/3210807209/in/set-72157612771751114

Now you need to bring back pantographed on your frames. May be "VO"s inside of a shield on both sides of the rear brake bridge amd on each side of the fork crowns. Also a vertical "VO" on on the seatstay caps.

This can be seen on my early 1980's custom Basso.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97652170@N00/sets/72157612771751114/

Pantographs on top of chromed fork crown:http://www.flickr.com/photos/97652170@N00/3219685542/in/set-72157612771751114

Pantographs on the rear brake bridge:http://www.flickr.com/photos/97652170@N00/3218836147/in/set-72157612771751114

Pantographs on the seat stay caps:http://www.flickr.com/photos/97652170@N00/3211463598/in/set-72157612771751114/